The Emotions of Holy Week

Although we anticipate the celebration of Easter, this week’s readings remind us to slow down and walk through Holy Week. The passage from Hebrews recalls the suffering of Jesus on the Cross, and Psalm 36 provides poetic imagery of the suffering servant. Both lead us to keep our focus on Jesus. The readings from John and Matthew guide us through the emotions of Jesus’ journey to the Cross—betrayal, conflict, denial, and hope. These themes guide us along the journey of Holy Week and empower our Easter response: to share the story of resurrection and to live out the command to love one another.

Read Isaiah 42:1-9. How have you responded to God’s call on your life? How often has that call changed?
Read Psalm 36:5-11. What would your poem to God look like this week?
Read Hebrews 12:1-3. How do you stay focused on Jesus? What imagery in this passage do you think relates to staying focused?
Read Matthew 28:1-10. Think about a time that you had good news to share and could not keep it to yourself.